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Post by microstatistics on Aug 26, 2018 2:50:13 GMT -5
Akira Hokuto/Shinobu Kandori vs. Aja Kong/Bull Nakano (AJW, 3/27/1994)
A lot more hard hitting than I remember. Aja is one of the greatest offensive wrestlers ever. I really like how they establish Kandori and Hokuto as being able to hold their own individually but simply aren't a legitimate threat until the teamwork begins. Hokuto's selling is outstanding from start to finish. One thing I'll say is Bull was clearly the weakest of the four, to the point that it was pretty noticeable. 1-2 submission holds drag a little. But yeah, this is ambitious storytelling done at the highest level.
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Post by microstatistics on Aug 30, 2018 16:53:51 GMT -5
Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude (WCW, 6/20/1992)
Truly one of the smartest matches in history. From the body part work to how they use the stipulation to the transitions. Plus throw in long term selling and a real mean streak from both guys.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 6, 2018 22:45:52 GMT -5
Atlantis vs. Villano III (CMLL, 3/17/2000)
Absolute clinic by V3, from his showboating to growing desperation and general mannerisms. The match is more vicious than I remember. They actually maximize the drama by milking everything with smart transitions and momentum shifts. V3 desperately clobbering Atlantis at the end but collapsing while clutching at his back is such a poignant moment. The camera work was sort of annoying actually because they zoomed out or cut to the audience at wrong times and missed some of the action.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 8, 2018 2:04:29 GMT -5
Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Osamu Nishimura (MUGA, 9/25/2006)
Pretty remarkable that a 17 years past his prime Fujinami manages to outwork peak Nishimura. The relentless veteran going after his protégé and schooling him for most of the match. He probably could have sold the armwork more, while on offense. Excellent knee selling by Nishimura and strategy work as he has to outfox Fujinami because he can't outtechnique him. The finish is a lot more sudden and out of nowhere than I remember but I guess it works as a shocking snatch victory from the jaws of defeat type deal.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 8, 2018 2:38:45 GMT -5
Jun Akiyama vs. Masao Inoue (NOAH, 4/23/2006)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is pro wrestling. Something I didn't notice before is that the selling of everything, including the comedy spots, is top notch. Good mix of lighthearted stuff and Akiyama trying to cave Inoue's skull in. Another example of how much an invested crowd can add to a match.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 8, 2018 3:06:32 GMT -5
El Satanico vs. Lizmark (CMLL, 7/14/1998)
I know opinion is divided on this match but Satanico's all round performance here is one of the reasons he is far and away the lucha GOAT for me. Lizmark is a machine on a mission while Satanico is basically pride and arrogance personified so the character juxtaposition is cool. The transitions are as clever as ever. Biggest strength of the match is probably that they keep things tight and focused across each of the falls.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 19, 2018 23:52:45 GMT -5
Megumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyota (FMW, 5/5/1996)
Get rid of the emotion and drama and you still have a really good, smartly worked big vs. small match. No hate or animosity (in fact it's the opposite) but still hard fought and intense. Great selling by Kudo. The Onita stuff and the postmatch are memorable as ever. One criticism is that maybe they did one nearfall too many.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 20, 2018 0:55:57 GMT -5
Steve Grey vs. Johnny Saint (Joint Promotions, 1/28/1980)
Persistence conquers all. Classic title bout where they execute basic stuff in such a way that it ends up being mesmerizing. Truly outstanding selling by Grey. Face vs. face which isn't always the most compelling template but the competitiveness of everything makes it work.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 20, 2018 19:55:24 GMT -5
Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Hiroyuki Ito (U-Style, 8/18/2004)
Aside from one slick sequence, I forgot that this is actually pretty light on matwork. Off the charts urgency from Ito while Tamura sells like Fujiwara and is generally very unselfish. Defensive body shots and dramatic standup exchanges.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 20, 2018 20:08:29 GMT -5
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi (NOAH, 3/1/2003)
Another really smart match. There is some no selling and 1-2 bombs too many but almost everything is pretty focused. Misawa targeting Kobashi's arm and desperately cutting him off at every turn is pretty cool as is Kobashi attacking the neck to setup the Burning Hammer. The ramp Tiger Suplex is treated like a huge deal by everyone (as it should) and the finishing stretch really fits the passing of the torch moment
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 26, 2018 16:49:57 GMT -5
Kenta Kobashi/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Doug Furnas/Dan Kroffat (AJPW, 5/25/1992)
I don't know if this is the loudest crowd ever (though it's up there). It's not the most emotionally invested. But for a combination of the two, this is the best crowd ever. Classic southern tag with some neat detail work so psychology wise it's no slouch, though some of the selling (from Kroffat specifically) is a little spotty. His heel work rules though.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 26, 2018 17:03:42 GMT -5
El Hijo del Santo/Octagon vs. Eddie Guerrero/Art Barr (AAA, 11/6/1994)
This is lighter on action than I remember. Or atleast it's sparsely distributed until the finishing stretch. The first two falls work well on their own but the real meat is in the third fall. The character work is legendary. Santo's selling is excellent throughout. Great crowd.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 29, 2018 20:09:31 GMT -5
Akira Taue vs. Stan Hansen (AJPW, 4/11/1994)
I know this is mainly known for Hansen's rib selling but I still maintain that is an absolute classic from a psychology, action and character standpoint. This is probably the only match where I saw Hansen as the aging gunslinger and he absolutely nailed it here. Taue is the opportunistic bruiser. A ton of struggle here as well, the opening stretch in particular is nuts.
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Post by microstatistics on Sept 30, 2018 0:55:16 GMT -5
Akira Hokuto/Aja Kong vs. Dynamite Kansai/Yumiko Hotta (AJW, 8/24/1994)
All time storytelling and character work. Though they do 1-2 too many kickouts near the end and some of the selling is questionable, even from Hokuto. Overall it was another sublime performance by her though, she really was the master with it came to these types of ambitious matches.
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Post by microstatistics on Oct 16, 2018 17:58:30 GMT -5
The Shield vs. Daniel Bryan/Kane/Ryback (WWE, 12/16/2012)
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" "Divide and conquer" pick your cliché, this holds up as one of the best matches in the history of the company. It isn't perfect as it does rely on Bryan and Kane overselling and laying around for extended periods to work but that's relatively minor. Lots of violent, creative spots across the board. The muggings are great as is Bryan's fire and Ryback comes across as a monster.
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